In the past week you've heard a lot about the new bridge spanning the Haulover Creek, which will connect Chetumal Street in Belama to Lake Independence. The story that has been making the headlines is that squatters have cropped up along Chtumal Street south.
But on Chetumal Street north - and in the wider Belama area - residents are nervous and edgy - they say with the bridge, will come roving criminals.
Well, even without the bridge, that area is already a becoming hot zone: two weeks ago, a police officer was ambushed and shot inside the police station - and today only a block and a half away from that same Belama substation - which is now closed - there was a house break-in in broad daylight. It happened at a home right at the water's edge, and 7News was there when the homeowner arrived:…
Jim McFadzean
"When did you discover there was a robbery?"
Irvin Nicholas, Home burglarized
"Well I came back about 11:30, I drop my wife at home because I was going back, but something tell me that I should check the house, she went upstairs and as she got upstairs she saw that the place was broken into. The burglar was open and the wooden door broken."
Jim McFadzean
"Did they pry the burglar bar door open?"
Irvin Nicholas, Home burglarized
"I guess they did."
Jim McFadzean
"Are there any indications that the burglar door was pried?"
Irvin Nicholas, Home burglarized
"No but I personally lock it before I left this morning. I lock both doors. I leave here at 9 o' clock this morning."
Jim McFadzean
"So when did you determine that your house was rob?"
Irvin Nicholas, Home burglarized
"As I got up the steps and I see that the door is damage. So I know that somebody was inside. So I came down and I call for the police because I thought they were still inside the house."
Jim McFadzean
"Have you determined yet what has been stolen?"
Irvin Nicholas, Home burglarized
"I haven't seen anything stolen so far. I saw my computer, I saw my VCR, I don't think they took anything, probably they were looking for jewelry, I haven't look closely at those yet. But on the outset it's just damage to everything."
Jim McFadzean
"Are you concern? I know that people are concern that the new bridge that is going to allow access from the south side to the north side that there has been residence in Belama that have been concern because of the access. Even right now without the bridge the access by the river - you are right by the riverside."
Irvin Nicholas, Home burglarized
"Very concern because people come through our side to fishing and the guys they are fishing - you don't know what they are doing. We are very concern about the new bridge. But it's something that is necessary so we cannot hinder progress. I hope they move the police station and put it at the bridge foot. "
Despite the quick response by the police, no one has been detained so far.
